What is the process of complete destruction of bacteria, spores, and viruses called?

The process of complete destruction of bacteria, spores, and viruses is known as sterilization. This is the highest level of infection control, aimed at eliminating all forms of microbial life, including those that are more resistant, such as spores. Sterilization is critical in settings where the risk of infection is particularly high, such as in medical facilities or when preparing instruments for beauty therapy treatments.

Disinfection, while also important, refers to the process of killing or inactivating most pathogenic microorganisms, but it does not achieve the complete eradication of all microorganisms, especially spores, which is a key aspect of sterilization. Cleaning involves the physical removal of dirt and impurities, but it does not kill microorganisms. Sanitization reduces the number of bacteria to safe levels but does not eliminate all microorganisms.

Therefore, the fundamental distinction lies in the level of microbial reduction achieved: sterilization ensures total destruction, while the other methods focus on various degrees of contamination control.